Seaworld has announced that “Tillie”, the killer whale, who brutally drowned Dawn Brancheau in February of 2010 is slated to be in their “Believe” show in Florida, beginning this morning at 11:30.
Questions and criticisms abound because Tilikum has killed three people in its history at SeaWorld. SeaWorld stands by their decision stating that “they feel it’s an important part of Tilikum’s physical, social and mental enrichment to perform again.” Tilikum is the largest killer whale at any SeaWorld park.
No trainers will be in the water with Tilikum as he performs once again. But does that make it right to have this killer whale involved in their show at all? He is clearly a danger and a serious threat to the trainers’ lives.
SeaWorld makes billions of dollars on their SeaWorld shows and Tilikum is their largest killer whale to be used in the show. Tilikum has not been used since the death of the last trainer.
SeaWorld also come under fire by the “Federal Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration that says they recklessly place putting trainers in danger.”
Tilikum has been kept in captivity for decades by SeaWorld. If he was to be released into the wild, could he survive? But being held “captive” in a small area also seems to be cruel to a whale that needs the wide, open ocean.
So what is the answer? To some people, they have no problem having Tilikum back in the show “entertaining people” despite the cold, hard fact that he killed three people. To SeaWorld, in my opinion, it’s about the bottomline- the money Tilikum can provide for this franchise. Isn’t this exploitation of animals for the almighty buck?
While I don’t feel SeaWorld is purposely cruel to the whales, I find it beyond disturbing to enclose a killer whale in small pools for the sole purpose to entertain us. Yes, they obviously can be trained but they will never lose their natural instinct to kill as shown repeatedly by Tilikum. What about the welfare of the animals? Does anyone care? Is anyone listening?
Stay tuned and to find out if or when Tilikum will strike again. I pray he doesn’t.